Careers

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world. 

Job Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Assistant Director of Academic Safety or other person designated by Executive Director EH&S, the Chemical Safety Services Manager develops, implements, and manages all aspects of a comprehensive laboratory and chemical safety program. The Manager serves as the Chemical and Industrial Hygiene Officer for the campus and experimental stations, including setting safety policies and practices, conducting assessments, and monitoring regulatory compliance. This position provides related emergency response procedures and coordinates related training activities.

Essential Functions

• Manages all aspects of the Laboratory and Chemical Safety program, including developing, and reviewing laboratory safety programs for regulatory purposes and maintaining the chemical hygiene plan, institutional standard operating procedures (SOPs) for chemicals and hazardous processes, and any chemical specific programs that are applicable to labs. Provides leadership for Institutional Chemical Safety Committee and Laboratory Safety Coordinators; provides policy updates for review, identifies campus issues for discussion. 
• Serves as the institutional Chemical Hygiene Officer as required by 29 CFR 1910.1450.
• Performs inspection, identification, evaluation, elimination, and control of chemical, physical, environmental and ergonomic health hazards.
• Provides technical expertise and support to other areas of the department and campus by advising on safe and compliant handling of chemicals, exposure monitoring, and any needed programs.
• Conducts Risk Assessments on the use of particularly hazardous chemicals or processes, including nanomaterials and any materials with specific regulatory requirements, identifies and uses proper air monitoring techniques, develops exposure monitoring strategies, and issues reports of findings and recommendations. Reviews SOPs for work with particularly hazardous or regulated materials and presents information to the Institutional Chemical Safety Committee for approval.
• Performs, schedules, and oversees laboratory safety assessments and documents follow-up corrective actions in a timely manner. Prepares departmental reports on lab safety assessment deficiencies. Maintains data on assessments and corrective actions.
• Assists Principal Investigators (PI) and researchers in the implementation of chemical safety protocols and performing post-approval site visits to monitor progress and adherence to protocols and procedures.  Works closely with the Institutional Chemical Safety Committee, Laboratory Safety Coordinators, Facilities and Campus Planning staff and Physical Plant staff to recognize, evaluate and control potentially hazardous occupational exposures.
• Conducts on-site assessments of safety systems, chemical and hazardous handling procedures and storage facilities, and inspection of all science, research, and other laboratories.
• Provides industrial hygiene services for campus employees including exposure monitoring, respiratory protection, occupational health monitoring, and indoor air quality assessments aimed at prevention of occupational injuries and illness. Specifies and performs or oversees the maintenance and calibration of all EH&S industrial hygiene equipment and manages internal and external contracted industrial hygiene lab services.  Establishes and/or maintains data on illness or injury prevention monitoring. Conducts injury and illness investigations, writes reports and maintains records. Provides emergency response support, including off hours. Advises other health and safety personnel responding to emergencies on occupational health-related matters.
• Develops and updates training materials for training sessions. Stays informed of new legislation, equipment and procedures and promotes safety in laboratory design. Teaches pertinent seminars, training sessions, and workshops to students, faculty and staff.
• Initiates, develops, obtains approval, and implements policies, systems, and standards for safety and industrial hygiene pertaining to labs.
• Compiles monthly and annual reports, assists in reviewing, establishing, and implementing program goals and objectives.
• Maintains up-to-date competency in professional field.
• Liaises with federal, state, and private agencies, as well as other Universities.
• Provides leadership and support to the CEMS team that provides receipt and delivery services for all hazardous materials and lab and waste supplies for academic areas and for the inventory of all chemicals on campus in academic areas. Develops, monitors, and adjusts processes and performs data verification to maintain an accurate chemical inventory and ensure that Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) are maintained for all academic areas. Maintains inventory schedule for chemicals in laboratories and ensures lab door cards are up-to-date.
• Supervises Senior Lab Safety and Industrial Hygiene Officers.
• Maintains strong working relationships within the department and across the University to provide support for laboratory clean-outs, chemical redistribution programs, and coordination of waste removal.

Other Functions

• Performs other duties as assigned.
• May provide chemical and industrial hygiene consultative services to other campuses, agencies, and municipals.

• Contributes toward creating a positive and respectful workplace defined by personal and professional competence, integrity, and collaboration.
• Understands and contributes to implementation of departmental and institutional goals for achieving non-discrimination and creating a respectful, inclusive environment that is supportive of diversity.
• Uses access to sensitive and/or not yet public university related information only in the performance of the responsibilities of position and exercises care to prevent unnecessary disclosure to others.
• Understands responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behaves in ways consistent both with law and with University policy.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor's Degree Chemistry or Materials Science, Industrial Hygiene or related field plus 5 years' relevant experience practicing laboratory safety, working in a research laboratory, or combination.
• Thorough knowledge of scientific practices and procedures, laboratory/chemical safety principles and practices, industrial hygiene and occupational health practices, and the regulatory requirements associated with a research environment.
• Thorough understanding of the current compliance requirements applicable to specialized research activities and facilities.
• Demonstrated ability to educate others in safe work practices and facilitate laboratory trainings.
• Ability to promote and assure continuous improvement. Establish and maintain productive relationships with a full range of personnel that reflect a strong commitment to customer service and collegiality.
• Enthusiastic work ethic and the ability to effectively mitigate potentially stressful situations.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and judgment; demonstrated excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience in word processing, spreadsheets, and various computer data management systems used in professional management organizations.
• Ability to work in confined hazardous environments wearing protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus required.

 Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Master's or Doctoral degree in Chemistry or Materials Science, Industrial Hygiene or related field plus 1 year of relevant experience practicing laboratory safety, or working in a research laboratory, or combination.
• Chemical Hygiene Officer upon hire.
• Certified Industrial Hygienist upon hire.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

• Monday-Friday Day Shift.
• Night and weekend hours may be required.

Salary Information

Level 29

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

 Along with the application, please submit a resume, and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.